Derrick Rose sits out USA vs Dominican Republic exhibition game

Chicago Bulls star Derrick Rose was a last-minute scratch Wednesday night from Team USA’s exhibition game against the Dominican Republic at Madison Square Garden.

Rose was scheduled to play Wednesday despite sitting out practices Monday and Tuesday to rest his sore knees after making his return to a game for the first time in eight months Saturday night in an exhibition victory over Brazil in Chicago.

One source familiar with Team USA’s plans told ESPN.com that Team USA coach Mike Krzyzewski decided to hold Rose out of the Dominican Republic game to make more minutes available for players vying for one of the squad’s last few roster spots as final cuts approach.

Rose participated in shootaround Wednesday morning and, according to one source present, moved “well” throughout the session after sitting out the last two practices.